Let the discussion begin

Peter Julian, the NDP critic for Energy and Natural Resources, will be the featured guest at an informal round table in Nelson hosted by MP Alex Atamanenko and the West Kootenay EcoSociety.

This event will be held on June 1 at the Nelson United Church from 7-9 p.m.

At the end of May the B.C. government will present its final official position on Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline to the National Energy Board Joint Review Panel (JRP).

Premier elect Christy Clark has outlined five conditions that must be met if the project is to receive provincial government support, including “appropriate safety measures,” but the federal government’s Bill C-38 abbreviates the environmental review process and appears to give them the authority to override decisions made by Canada’s energy authority.

People are invited to participate in the discussion of the proposed Enbridge pipeline and the impact of tanker traffic along the B.C. coast and Canada’s energy policy.

David Reid of the the EcoSociety, Keith Wiley of the Kootenays for a Tanker Free BC, Wayne McCrory from the Vahalla Wilderness Society and Nadine Podmoroff representing the Nelson Council of Canadians will also be in attendance.

Gathering before

A Gathering of Eagles takes flight and lands in Castlegar on June 2.

The Convergence for a Pipeline and Tanker-Free BC follows the “round table” in Nelson on Saturday evening and will be held at the Brilliant Cultural Centre from 1-5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The featured speakers are grand chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Joan Phillip, Penticton Indian Band councillor and lands administrator Gerald Amos, former chief councillor of Kitimat, Haisla First Nations, and Peter Julian, NDP critic for Energy and Natural Resources.

There will be additional presentations by Atamanenko, Katrine Conroy, MLA for Kootenay West, Keith Wiley of Kootenays for a Tanker-Free BC and Wayne McCrory from the Valhalla Wilderness Society.